Sindh Assembly passes bill against forced conversions

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a bill against forced religious conversions in the province.

The Sindh Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Bill, 2015 was tabled by PML-F’s Nand Kumar and Khatu Mal Jeewan.

The bill recommends seven years for perpetrators and five years for facilitators of forced conversions.

Minors will not be able to change their religion as per the bill.

Adults considering to change their religion will be provided with a safe house for 21 days, where relevant religious material will be provided to them. They can then make a decision whether to change their religion.

Nand Kumar thanked Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Nisar Khuhro and opposition parties for their support for the bill.

“This bill was our longstanding demand. The entire province will benefit from it,” he said.

Last week, the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a report of the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, calling for the establishment of Sindh Minorities Rights Commission.

The Minority Rights Commission extending to the whole of the province, comprising members of minority communities, lawyers and civil society activists, would be given authority to launch an inquiry over human rights violations of the province’s minorities.